Estrada visits ailing mother in hospital

Despite having a slight fever, deposed President Joseph Estrada yesterday pushed through with his scheduled visit to his ailing mother at the San Juan Medical Center.

At around 10:55 a.m., Estrada arrived at the hospital where his mother, Mary Ejercito, had been confined since Aug. 10.

The former president was accompanied by his armed escorts from the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) in Camp Crame and members of the Eastern Police District (EPD) and the San Juan City police.

The Sandiganbayan Special Division earlier granted Estrada’s wish to visit his sick mother from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Estrada’s son, Sen. Jing-goy Estrada, confirmed that his father had a slight fever yesterday morning but went on with his three-hour journey from his detention camp to visit his mother.

The elder Estrada and his family asked the public to pray for the immediate recovery of their family’s matriarch, expressing sadness over her condition.

Ejercito has been hospitalized for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, pneumonia and urinary tract infection. The 102-year-old Ejercito is also suffering from hypertension.

Dr. Lorenzo Hocson, the family physician, said Ejercito is in “stable condition.” – Non Alquitran, Sandy Araneta